You have GOT to play a Baja tele in your quest for a good tele..
Unblievable value, custom shop pickups etc .. . .
I've had and played a huge share of Tele's and a good mexican Baja will hold its own in 90% of most company . . . .
I went Ash for a few reasons, first was because it's the second wood (after Pine) that Fender used, but Lance had picked out three Teles that he really liked, one was Alder, maple fingerboard/neck and black, the second was a 3 tone burst with Alder and a Rosewood fingerboard and the third the Ash one that I'm buying. My final decision was because I wanted an all Maple neck and finally, I absolutely loved the look of the Ash on this particular guitar.